Creating MP3s
Everybody knows that an MP3 is a way of playing music on your PC, and that there's lots of controversy
over copyright issues. Well, this tutorial will show you how to create an MP3 file from one of your own
CDs that you have created from your own original music. Copying the CDs of your favourite and
distributing the MP3s is illegal and should not, under any circumstances, copy a CD where the copyright
does not belong to you.
Part 1: legal MP3s
There are places where you can download MP3s that are legal, because the owner of the copyright
has allowed their music to be put on the Internet. One of these places is MP3.com, where you can also
download what is known as a 'ripper' as well as things like MP3 players for you PC. When we take
music of a CD it is known as 'ripping' it, and therefore the software we use to do it is called a ripper.
Another site where you can find a ripper is http://www.vitaminic.co.uk. Go to this site and go to the
software library.
Select your operating system
Choose CD rippers
Choose 'Win DAC'
Download the file
Win DAC is shareware, which means if you like it you should register it. Once you have
downloaded the software you should install it and then open it. If you have an audio CD in your drive
Win DAC will list the tracks that are on that CD, if you don't have a CD in your drive,
it might be a good idea to put one in there.
Click on the 'DAC' menu
Click on 'Settings'
Use the tabs to set your own preferences, such as where you want the file to go in 'Output File'
Click on 'DAC'
Click on 'Format'
Click on 'Wave Format'
Choose 'MPEG Layer 3'
Choose the track you want to rip
Click on 'Copy Track(s)' and the top toolbar. The file will be copied and converted into an MP3 file.
Topper's tip: www.mp3.com for legal MP3 downloads
Part 2: a player that rips
So that's one way of ripping a CD, but there are others. In fact if you search around on the Internet
you'll probably find there are dozens of rippers. Some rippers also act as player too.
Win DAC is a very high-end piece of software. You might want to try a ripper/player called
Music Match Jukebox, which you can get at www.musicmatch.com and is freeware, not shareware.
Download Music Match Jukebox from www.musicmatch.com
Once downloaded, install and run the software
Click on the 'Options' menu
Select 'Recorder'
Choose the CD drive as your source
Click on the 'Record Music CDs' button
Choose the track you want to rip
Press the 'Record' button
There will be a progress bar as you track is turned into an MP3 file. Once ripped your MPs files
will go to a folder in the Program Files/Music Match directory.
Topper's tip: get Music Match Jukebox from www.musicmatch.com
Part 3: options
If you have Windows ME or have upgraded to Windows Media Player 7, than you have a built-in CD ripper
already on your PC. Windows Media Player will play MP3 files, but it will not create MP3 files.
It creates files with a WMA extension. This stands for Windows Media Audio, and most MP3 players
will be able to play these files as well as MP3 files. Windows Media Player 7 can also search you
hard drive for all your sound files and it will then list them in the Media Library within the player.
Most MP3 players will let you create a library of music files and most will also let your create play
lists out of your music.
As we've already mentioned, there are lots of different players around on the Internet that will let you
listen to your MP3 files on your PC. Try WinAmp or Sonique or simply search for an MP3 player
at a search engine. If you have Real Player installed on your PC you will find that it will also play MP3s.
